First and foremost, speech-language pathology is one of those fields that involves diagnosing and treating swallowing and communication disorders. If you want to pursue a career in this field, be sure that you will greatly impact the lives of families, clients, and communities for a lifetime. The good news is that this career is very rewarding to people who want to venture into this field. If you are considering a career change, you will never go wrong being a speech-language pathologist for the following reasons:
It is Fulfilling
One of the reasons why most people prefer pursuing slp careers is that it offers you the opportunity to make a positive impact on different people. As a speech-language pathologist, trust that you will be working in learning institutions that have students with speech difficulties. In this case, you will be helping them overcome those problems to improve their academic performance.
Besides schools, you can work with people who have had injuries in the past that have made them experience difficulties in speaking. If you are able to help such people regain their speech abilities, trust that you will feel fulfilled.
Increased Flexibility
Flexibility in the workplace is a critical component that can motivate employees to become more productive. Thankfully, with slp careers, trust that you will enjoy more flexibility as you can create your own schedule. This means that you can even work on weekends or during specific hours of the day.
That leaves you with more time to attend to other personal matters. For instance, you can use that time to meet personal needs or spend it with your loved ones. This flexibility also allows you to work in different places in your country. Since you will be able to work even on a contract basis, you can manage to take several jobs in various locations.
Allows You to Choose a Certain Area of Specialization
If you are a speech-language pathologist, you have the luxury to specialize in a certain range or condition group. For instance, you can opt to pay more attention to young children with a cleft palate. You can become an expert in a subspecialty of this field.
You can focus on subspecialties such as Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, child language disorders, and fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.
Good Salary
Perhaps one of the main reasons to consider pursuing a career in speech-language pathology is that it pays well. For instance, in the United States, the average base salary for a professional in this field is $111,768 annually.
However, this figure is not set in stone. It varies depending on your location, among other factors. If you have more experience and qualifications, your salary can increase tenfold.
Increased Job security
Most people in the job market grapple with job insecurity. In simple terms, they hardly know whether they will remain in their places of work until retirement. The good news is that pursuing slp careers allows you to enjoy stable job security.
Here, you will work under contract, especially if you work primarily in a hospital or a learning institution. Since speech-language pathologists are always in high demand, be sure that you will always get a job to do even when you have left your previous place of work.
Zero Boredom
If you value changing the work environment from time to time, becoming a speech-language pathologist should top the list of your priorities. Unlike other careers, this one allows you to change your scenery occasionally.
For instance, at one time, you can work in a clinic or hospital; next time, you can work in a school or rehab center. This means you can work as a freelancing speech-language therapist and still make money. This aspect reduces boredom, which might develop after working in one workplace for long without shifting.
Allows You to Grow Your Career
Most employees desire to grow their careers once they start working in a certain organization or company. Thankfully, once you pursue a career in speech-language pathology, you can be sure that you will be able to grow your career in the long run. You just have to be licensed, and you will be good to go.
For example, you can start working as a speech-language therapist in a learning institution. As you gain experience and competence, your next workplace can be in a rehabilitation center or even a hospital. Other times, you can become a senior-level speech therapist. With this room for growth, this profession is very promising for anyone who wants to progress in his or her career.
Allows You to Get Self-employed
The other amazing perk of working as a speech-language pathologist is that you can be self-employed. This means that you can serve private clients on the side while you work elsewhere. Consequently, you can double your income and meet several financial needs. This profession’s versatility is unmatched.
Room for Continued Learning
The field of speech-language pathology is ever-changing. At the moment, there is a lot of research going on. As we look into the future, you can expect better interventions to be used to deal with various conditions related to this field.
Although it is impossible to learn everything, trust that you will learn several facets of this field over time. This will put you in a better position to get better job opportunities in the future.
Final Thoughts
From the article above, it is clear that pursuing a career in speech-language pathology is worth pursuing. As an expert in this field, you will enjoy more fulfillment, increased flexibility, specialization, better salary, etc. If you gain more experience as a speech-language pathologist, you have the opportunity to venture into mentorship positions, leadership roles, pursue doctoral degrees or engage in private practice. Therefore, slp careers are worth your time and money.